Large field of candidates competes for Ga. Senate seat

The winner of the race will replace former Sen. Ronald Ramsey, D-Lithonia, whom Gov. Nathan Deal appointed in July to become a judge in DeKalb State Court's Traffic Division. Ramsey had served in the Senate since 2007, and there's more than a year left in his two-year term.

If none of the candidates wins a majority in the nonpartisan race, a runoff will be held Dec. 8. Senate District 43 covers about 173,000 residents.

The candidates are:

• Diana Adoma, a Republican from Conyers and tax preparation store co-owner. Adoma ran in the Democratic primary election for a state House seat last year before switching parties.
• Tonya Anderson, a Democrat from Lithonia and state representative. Anderson has been in office since 2013, and she listed her occupations as pastor and certified life coach.
• Sharon Griffin Sawyer, a Democrat from Covington and financial analyst.
• Marcus Jordan, a Democrat from Covington and chief appraiser for Newton County. Jordan ran for the Newton Commission in 2012.
• Bill Kennedy, a Republican. Kennedy is retired and he didn't list his home town.
• Angela Moore, a Democrat from Lithonia and public relations manager. Moore has worked for the DeKalb Democratic Party and served on the executive board for the YMCA Academy of South DeKalb.
• Rodney Upton, a Democrat from Conyers and contractor. Upton ran for the state House in 2010.
• JaNice Van Ness, a Republican from Conyers and former Rockdale Commissioner. Van Ness is currently the chairwoman of the Rockdale Republican Party, and she's the owner and founder of Peachtree Academy.
• Stan Williams, a Democrat from Conyers and retired consultant. Williams is a former chairman of the Rockdale Democratic Party.